Currently Onboard Zuiderdam. Requiring Negative Covid Test to Be Taken Onboard Today In Order to Transit Panama Canal

3.3k · January 9, 2022

Thank you so much Sailor Marg! Your insights have helped me feel more comfortable moving forward. Enjoy the Panama Canal transit.

leerathje · January 9, 2022

On 1/5/2022 at 4:07 PM, Boatdrill said:

In March 2020 during the pause in cruise operations, HAL asked for and was granted special permission for the Zaandam and Rotterdam to transit the canal to return passengers (both healthy and ill) to Ft Lauderdale. At the time, Panama's Ministry of Health didn't allow any ship with COVID-19 positive passengers to transit the canal. It was certainly a maritime humanitarian issue - four people had died on the Zaandam during the voyage northward from the tip of South America. Ultimately the Ministry of Health gave the go ahead, and the ships were allowed through, at night. Canal employees boarded the ships in hazmat suits.

Panama was one of the very few countries to help these ships get home.

Actually, the Koningdam transitted through the Panama on April 11, 2020, and it was in the middle of the day. It was a VERY EXTENSIVE thread (16 pages!). I screen-grabbed many photos from the transit iself.

L.

bcummin · January 10, 2022

On 1/6/2022 at 6:40 AM, Essiesmom said:

The two ships were granted passage and had to take the new locks, as they require many fewer contact personnel. They also went through at night in near blackout conditions, noone allowed on deck or balconies. I was following them on AIS and on the canal cams, and you could barely see them. Also, they were in a hurry to get them through, as they went through at near cruising speed, double the usual speed allowed. EM

Zaandam 3/29/20

Passing Pedro Miguel

Rotterdam at Cocoli Locks

Passing Pedro Miguel

Zaandam in Agua Clara Locks